Skill: Making New Friends | Learning Goal: Healthy Relationships
Grades: 6-8 | Activity Type: Lesson | Purpose: 🟢 Core Instruction
Be Good People Curriculum © St. Croix River Education District
How Do People Start New Friendships?
Today, we'll talk about how to reach out, connect with others, and form new friendships.
Which of her tips stood out to you as most important? Why?
WHY MAKING NEW FRIENDS MATTERS: |
✅ Most people enjoy spending time with friends and enjoy their lives more when they have friends to talk to and spend time with. ✅ Building friendships means you will have friends to rely on when you need help and support. |
Jada is paired with a new student, Kayla, for a group assignment. Jada has never spoken to her before and is unsure if they’ll get along. She wonders if she should make an effort to start a conversation or if she should focus only on completing the project.
On a scale from 1 to 10, how would you rate this as an opportunity for Jada to make a new friend? Why?
What wisdom would you share with an elementary students about how to make new friends and form strong friendships?
Picture this!
What about this sounds right? 👍
What details might be missing? 🤔
ROADMAP
TIP: |
When you're first getting to know someone, it can help to ask more open-ended questions. For example: "Hey, what do you do when you get home from school?" If you just told the person that you like video games, you could ask them, "Hey, do you play video games?" That’s a close-ended question, and it gives them fewer options to answer. |
Ava notices a student, Grace, sitting alone at lunch. Ava is friends with a group of people but has never talked to Grace. She wonders if she should invite Grace to join her group or stay with her usual friends. Ava feels unsure about stepping out of her comfort zone.
Skip to end
Play it out: How would the tips and suggestions that we’ve discussed look in this situation?
Words of wisdom: What advice would help someone handle this situation well?
Heads up: What pitfalls should someone try to avoid in a situation like this? How?
Lessons learned: I’ve been through a similar situation and here’s what I learned from it…
Choose one ⬇
Tyler is interested in joining the school’s drama club but doesn’t know anyone there. He’s nervous about meeting new people and fears he won’t fit in. Tyler wonders if he should still try out or wait until he feels more comfortable before making the decision.
Skip to end
Play it out: How would the tips and suggestions that we’ve discussed look in this situation?
Words of wisdom: What advice would help someone handle this situation well?
Heads up: What pitfalls should someone try to avoid in a situation like this? How?
Lessons learned: I’ve been through a similar situation and here’s what I learned from it…
Choose one ⬇
Khalil is assigned to sit next to someone he doesn’t know very well in class. He’s shy and feels awkward about starting a conversation. He wonders if he should try to make a new friend by introducing himself or wait for the other student to initiate.
Skip to end
Play it out: How would the tips and suggestions that we’ve discussed look in this situation?
Words of wisdom: What advice would help someone handle this situation well?
Heads up: What pitfalls should someone try to avoid in a situation like this? How?
Lessons learned: I’ve been through a similar situation and here’s what I learned from it…
Choose one ⬇
Liam wants to invite a new student, Priya, to his birthday party. He hasn’t talked much to her but feels they might have a lot in common. Liam isn’t sure if it’s too soon to invite her and wonders if she would even want to attend.
Skip to end
Play it out: How would the tips and suggestions that we’ve discussed look in this situation?
Words of wisdom: What advice would help someone handle this situation well?
Heads up: What pitfalls should someone try to avoid in a situation like this? How?
Lessons learned: I’ve been through a similar situation and here’s what I learned from it…
Choose one ⬇
Nice work! To recap, we learned more about: